Apparatus, system and method of multiband wireless communication

ABSTRACT

Some demonstrative embodiments include apparatuses, systems and/or methods of multiband wireless communication. For example, a multiband wireless communication device may include a receiver to receive a first message from a mobile device, the first message including multiband capability information indicating a plurality of supported wireless communication bands of the mobile device; a controller to select a selected wireless communication band from the plurality of supported wireless communication bands; and a transmitter to transmit a second message to the mobile device, the second message including an indication of the selected wireless communication band.

TECHNICAL FIELD

Embodiments described herein generally relate to multiband wirelesscommunication.

BACKGROUND

Multiband wireless communication devices may be configured to operateover a plurality of wireless communication bands. The wirelesscommunication bands may include, for example, unlicensed frequencybands. For example, the wireless communication bands may includeWireless Local Area Network (WLAN) frequency bands, e.g.,Wireless-Fidelity (WiFi) frequency bands, and/or cellular bands. In oneexample, a multiband wireless communication device may be configured tocommunicate over a 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) band, a 5.0 GHz band, a 60 GHzband, a Television White Space (TVWS) band, and the like.

In some current WiFi deployments the 2.4 GHz band, which utilizes only 3non-overlapping 20 Megahertz (MHz) channels, is saturated, while the 5GHz band is currently unsaturated.

As more and more multiband Access Points (APs) and stations (STAs) areprovided with multiband capabilities, there is a growing need forsolutions to utilize the multiband capabilities to optimize the use ofeach of the wireless communication bands.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in thefigures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, thedimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to otherelements for clarity of presentation. Furthermore, reference numeralsmay be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogouselements. The figures are listed below.

FIG. 1 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a system, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a deployment of asystem, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic block diagram illustration of a deployment of asystem, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a schematic sequence diagram of operations and interactionsbetween a mobile device, a first Access Point (AP), a second AP, and acellular module, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a schematic illustration of a multiband information AccessNetwork Query Protocol (ANQP) message, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 6A is a schematic illustration of a band steering ANQP message, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 6B is a schematic illustration of an information tuple, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

FIG. 7 is a schematic flow-chart illustration of a method of multibandwireless communication, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

FIG. 8 is a schematic illustration of a product of manufacture, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of some embodiments.However, it will be understood by persons of ordinary skill in the artthat some embodiments may be practiced without these specific details.In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, unitsand/or circuits have not been described in detail so as not to obscurethe discussion.

Discussions herein utilizing terms such as, for example, “processing”,“computing”, “calculating”, “determining”, “establishing”, “analyzing”,“checking”, or the like, may refer to operation(s) and/or process(es) ofa computer, a computing platform, a computing system, or otherelectronic computing device, that manipulate and/or transform datarepresented as physical (e.g., electronic) quantities within thecomputer's registers and/or memories into other data similarlyrepresented as physical quantities within the computer's registersand/or memories or other information storage medium that may storeinstructions to perform operations and/or processes.

The terms “plurality” and “a plurality”, as used herein, include, forexample, “multiple” or “two or more”. For example, “a plurality ofitems” includes two or more items.

References to “one embodiment”, “an embodiment”, “demonstrativeembodiment”, “various embodiments” etc., indicate that the embodiment(s)so described may include a particular feature, structure, orcharacteristic, but not every embodiment necessarily includes theparticular feature, structure, or characteristic. Further, repeated useof the phrase “in one embodiment” does not necessarily refer to the sameembodiment, although it may.

As used herein, unless otherwise specified the use of the ordinaladjectives “first”, “second”, “third” etc., to describe a common object,merely indicate that different instances of like objects are beingreferred to, and are not intended to imply that the objects so describedmust be in a given sequence, either temporally, spatially, in ranking,or in any other manner.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with various devices andsystems, for example, one way and/or two-way radio communicationsystems, a wireless communication station, a wireless communicationdevice, a wireless Access Point (AP), a mobile device, a User Equipment(UE), cellular radio-telephone communication systems, a node, a basestation, a server computer, a wired or wireless router, a wired orwireless modem, a wired or wireless network, a wireless area network, acellular network, a cellular node, a cellular technology operating inunlicensed spectrum, a Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN), a MultipleInput Multiple Output (MIMO) transceiver or device, a Single InputMultiple Output (SIMO) transceiver or device, a Multiple Input SingleOutput (MIS 0) transceiver or device, a device having one or moreinternal antennas and/or external antennas, multi-standard radio devicesor systems, and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with devices and/or networksoperating in accordance with existing Wireless-Gigabit-Alliance (WGA)specifications (Wireless Gigabit Alliance, Inc WiGig MAC and PHYSpecification Version 1.1, April 2011, Final specification) and/orfuture versions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networksoperating in accordance with existing IEEE 802.11 standards (IEEE802.11-2012, IEEE Standard for Information technology—Telecommunicationsand information exchange between systems Local and metropolitan areanetworks—Specific requirements Part 11: Wireless LAN Medium AccessControl (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY) Specifications, Mar. 29, 2012;IEEE802.11 task group ac (TGac) (“IEEE802.11-09/0308r12 —TGac ChannelModel Addendum Document”); IEEE 802.11 task group ad (TGad) (IEEEP802.11ad-2012, IEEE Standard for Information Technology—Telecommunications and Information Exchange Between Systems—Local andMetropolitan Area Networks—Specific Requirements—Part 11: Wireless LANMedium Access Control (MAC) and Physical Layer (PHY)Specifications—Amendment 3: Enhancements for Very High Throughput in the60 GHz Band, 28 December, 2012)) and/or future versions and/orderivatives thereof, devices and/or networks operating in accordancewith existing and/or Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) Alliance (WFA)Peer-to-Peer (P2P) specifications (WiFi P2P technical specification,version 1.2, 2012; Hotspot 2.0 Technical Specification v1.0.0), and/orfuture versions and/or derivatives thereof, devices and/or networksoperating in accordance with existing Long Term Evolution (LTE)specifications (including ETSI TS 136 300 V11.3.0 (2012-11): LTE;Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA) and EvolvedUniversal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN); Overalldescription; Stage 2 (3GPP TS 36.300 version 11.3.0 Release 11), 2012;3GPP TS 23.402: Architecture enhancements for non-3GPP accesses, Release11, September 2012; 3GPP TS 24.312: Access Network Discovery andSelection Function (ANDSF) Management Object (MO), Release 11, September2012; 3GPP TS 24.302: Access to the 3GPP Evolved Packet Core (EPC) vianon-3GPP access networks; Stage 3), Release 11, September 2012) and/orfuture versions and/or derivatives thereof, units and/or devices whichare part of the above networks, and the like.

Some embodiments may be used in conjunction with one or more types ofwireless communication signals and/or systems, for example, RadioFrequency (RF), Frequency-Division Multiplexing (FDM), Orthogonal FDM(OFDM), Single Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA),Time-Division Multiplexing (TDM), Time-Division Multiple Access (TDMA),Extended TDMA (E-TDMA), General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), extendedGPRS, Code-Division Multiple Access (CDMA), Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), CDMA2000, single-carrier CDMA, multi-carrier CDMA, Multi-Carrier Modulation(MDM), Discrete Multi-Tone (DMT), Bluetooth®, Global Positioning System(GPS), Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi), Wi-Max, ZigBee™, Ultra-Wideband (UWB),Global System for Mobile communication (GSM), second generation (2G),2.5G, 3G, 3.5G, 4G, Fifth Generation (5G) mobile networks, 3GPP, LongTerm Evolution (LTE) cellular system, LTE advance cellular system,High-Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High-Speed Uplink PacketAccess (HSUPA), High-Speed Packet Access (HSPA), HSPA+, Single CarrierRadio Transmission Technology (1×RTT), Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO),Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution (EDGE), and the like. Otherembodiments may be used in various other devices, systems and/ornetworks.

The term “wireless device”, as used herein, includes, for example, adevice capable of wireless communication, a communication device capableof wireless communication, a communication station capable of wirelesscommunication, a portable or non-portable device capable of wirelesscommunication, or the like. In some demonstrative embodiments, awireless device may be or may include a peripheral that is integratedwith a computer, or a peripheral that is attached to a computer. In somedemonstrative embodiments, the term “wireless device” may optionallyinclude a wireless service.

The term “communicating” as used herein with respect to a wirelesscommunication signal includes transmitting the wireless communicationsignal and/or receiving the wireless communication signal. For example,a radio, which is capable of communicating a wireless communicationsignal, may include a wireless transmitter to transmit the wirelesscommunication signal to at least one other radio, and/or a wirelesscommunication receiver to receive the wireless communication signal fromat least one other radio. The verb “communicating” may be used to referto the action of transmitting or the action of receiving. In oneexample, the phrase “communicating a signal” may refer to the action oftransmitting the signal by a first device, and may not necessarilyinclude the action of receiving the signal by a second device. Inanother example, the phrase “communicating a signal” may refer to theaction of receiving the signal by a first device, and may notnecessarily include the action of transmitting the signal by a seconddevice.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with a WLAN.Other embodiments may be used in conjunction with any other suitablewireless communication network, for example, a wireless area network, a“piconet”, a WPAN, a WWAN and the like.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with awireless communication network communicating over a frequency band of 60GHz. However, other embodiments may be implemented utilizing any othersuitable wireless communication frequency bands, for example, anExtremely High Frequency (EHF) band (the millimeter wave (mmWave)frequency band), e.g., a frequency band within the frequency band ofbetween 20 Ghz and 300 GHZ, a WLAN frequency band, a WPAN frequencyband, a Wireless-Gigabit (WiGig) frequency band, e.g., according to theWGA specification, a WiFi frequency band, a Wi-Fi Direct frequency band,a frequency band according to the IEEE 802.11 standards, e.g., accordingto IEEE 802.11ad (“the 802.11ad frequency band”), a frequency bandaccording to the WiFi standards, and the like.

Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein with respect to aLTE cellular network. However, other embodiments may be implemented inany other suitable cellular network, e.g., a 3G cellular network, a 4Gcellular network, a 5G cellular network, a WiMax cellular network, andthe like.

The phrase “peer to peer (PTP or P2P) communication”, as used herein,may relate to device-to-device communication over a wireless link(“peer-to-peer link”) between a pair of devices. The P2P communicationmay include, for example, wireless communication over a direct linkwithin a QoS basic service set (BSS), a tunneled direct-link setup(TDLS) link, a STA-to-STA communication in an independent basic serviceset (IBSS), or the like.

The phrase “access point” (AP), as used herein, may include an entitythat contains one station (STA) and provides access to distributionservices, via the WM for associated STAs.

The term “antenna”, as used herein, may include any suitableconfiguration, structure and/or arrangement of one or more antennaelements, components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. In someembodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using separate transmit and receive antenna elements. Insome embodiments, the antenna may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using common and/or integrated transmit/receiveelements. The antenna may include, for example, a phased array antenna,a single element antenna, a set of switched beam antennas, and/or thelike.

The phrase “mmWave frequency band” as used herein may relate to afrequency band above 20 GHz, e.g., a frequency band between 20 GHz and300 GHz.

Some demonstrative embodiments are described herein with respect tommWave radio resources and/or mmWave wireless communication links,however other embodiments may be used in conjunction with any othersuitable radio resources and/or any other wireless communication links.

The term “cell”, as used herein, may include a combination of networkresources, for example, downlink and optionally uplink resources. Theresources may be controlled and/or allocated, for example, by a wirelesscommunication node (also referred to as a “node” or a “base station”),or the like. The linking between a carrier frequency of the downlinkresources and a carrier frequency of the uplink resources may beindicated in system information transmitted on the downlink resources.

Some demonstrative embodiments may be used in conjunction with aHeterogeneous Network (HetNet), which may utilize a deployment of a mixof technologies, frequencies, cell sizes and/or network architectures,e.g., including cellular, WLAN, and/or the like. In one example, theHetNet may include a radio access network having layers ofdifferent-sized cells ranging from large macro cells to small cells, forexample, picocells and femtocells.

Other embodiments may be used in conjunction with any other suitablewireless communication network.

Reference is now made to FIG. 1, which schematically illustrates a blockdiagram of a system 100, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 may include one or morewireless communication devices capable of communicating content, data,information and/or signals via a wireless medium (WM), e.g., asdescribed below. The wireless medium may include, for example, a radiochannel, a WLAN channel, Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) channel, a WiGigchannel, a mmWave channel, a cellular channel, an RF channel, a an IRchannel, and the like. One or more elements of system 100 may optionallybe capable of communicating over any suitable wired communication links.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 may include one or moremultiband wireless communication devices configured to communicate overa plurality of wireless communication bands, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, system 100 may include one or moremultiband APs, e.g., including APs 130 and/or 150, capable ofcommunicating with one or more multiband mobile devices, e.g., includingmultiband mobile device 110.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 mayinclude, for example, a User Equipment (UE), a mobile computer, a laptopcomputer, a notebook computer, a tablet computer, an Ultrabook™computer, a mobile internet device, a handheld computer, a handhelddevice, a storage device, a PDA device, a handheld PDA device, anon-board device, an off-board device, a hybrid device, a consumerdevice, a vehicular device, a non-vehicular device, a portable device, amobile phone, a cellular telephone, a PCS device, a mobile or portableGPS device, a relatively small computing device, a non-desktop computer,a “Carry Small Live Large” (CSLL) device, an Ultra Mobile Device (UMD),an Ultra Mobile PC (UMPC), a Mobile Internet Device (MID), a device thatsupports Dynamically Composable Computing (DCC), a Smartphone, or thelike.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110,multiband AP 130, and/or multiband AP 150 may be configured tocommunicate, for example, over a plurality of wireless communicationbands, for example, a plurality of unlicensed frequency bands, or anyother wireless communication bands. For example, multiband mobile device110, multiband AP 130, and/or multiband AP 150 may be configured tocommunicate over one or more Wireless Local Area Network (WLAN)frequency bands, e.g., Wireless-Fidelity (WiFi) frequency bands, and/orcellular bands. In one example, multiband mobile device 110, multibandAP 130, and/or multiband AP 150 may be configured to communicate overone or more of a 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) band, a 5.0 GHz band, a 60 GHzband, a Television White Space (TVWS) band, and/or any other wirelesscommunication band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the plurality of wirelesscommunication bands may include wireless communication bands of one ormore Radio Access Technologies (RATs), for example, one or more of aWLAN technology, a cellular technology, and the like, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband APs 130 and 150 may form,or may be part of, an Extended Service Set (ESS), e.g., sharing anetwork name, security credentials, and the like. In other embodiments,APs 130 and 150 may be part of separate and/or independent Basic ServiceSets (BSSs), e.g., having different network names and/or independentsecurity credentials.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 and/or multiband AP150 may include at least one multiband radio 132 configured tocommunicate over a plurality of wireless communication bands (“theAP-supported bands”) supported by multiband AP 130 and/or AP 150.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband APs 130 and 150 may shareone or more AP-supported bands. For example, multiband AP 130 andmultiband AP 150 may both support communication over the 2.5 GHz bandand the 5 GHz band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the AP-supported bands of multibandAP 130 may include one or more wireless communication bands, which maynot be supported by multiband AP 150; and/or the AP-supported bands ofmultiband AP 150 may include one or more wireless communication bands,which may not be supported by multiband AP 130. For example, multibandAP 130 may support communication over the 60 GHz band, while multibandAP 150 may not support communication over the 60 GHz band; and/ormultiband AP 150 may support communication over the TVWS band, whilemultiband AP 130 may not support communication over the TVWS band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 mayinclude at least one multiband radio 112 configured to communicate overa plurality of wireless communication bands (“the mobile devicesupported bands”) supported by mobile device 110.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the mobile device supported bands ofmultiband mobile device 110 may include one or more wirelesscommunication bands, which may be supported by multiband APs 130 and/or150. For example, multiband mobile device 110 may both supportcommunication over the 2.5 GHz band and the 5 GHz band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the mobile device supported bands ofmultiband mobile device 110 may include one or more wirelesscommunication bands, which may not be supported by multiband AP 130and/or multiband AP 150; and/or the mobile device supported bands ofmultiband mobile device 110 may not include one or more wirelesscommunication bands, which are supported by multiband AP 130 and/ormultiband AP 150. For example, multiband mobile device 110 may supportcommunication over the 60 GHz band, and may not support communicationover the TVWS band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may communicate withmultiband mobile device 110 over a WLAN link 181, e.g., a WiFi link, aP2P link, a WiGig link, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may communicate withmultiband AP 150 over a WLAN link 182, e.g., a WiFi link, a P2P link, aWiGig link, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband radios 112 and/or 132 mayinclude one or more wireless transmitters, receivers and/or transceiversable to send and/or receive wireless communication signals, RF signals,frames, blocks, transmission streams, frames, messages, data items,and/or data. In one example, multiband radios 112 and/or 132 may includemodulation elements, demodulation elements, amplifiers, analog todigital and/or digital to analog converters, filters, and/or the like.For example, multiband radio 121 may include at least one multibandtransmitter (Tx) 114 and at least one multiband receiver (Rx) 116;and/or multiband radio 132 may include at least one multibandtransmitter (Tx) 134 and at least one multiband receiver (Rx) 136.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 mayinclude a controller 118 configured to control communications performedby multiband mobile device 110; and/or multiband AP 130 may include acontroller 138 configured to control communications performed bymultiband AP 130, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband radio 112 and controller118 may be implemented as part of a wireless Network Interface (NI),e.g., a wireless Network Interface Card (NIC), and the like. In somedemonstrative embodiments, multiband radio 132 and controller 138 may beimplemented as part of a NI, e.g., a wireless NIC, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband radio 112 may include ormay be associated with one or more antennas 120, and/or multiband radio132 may include or may be associated with one or more antennas 140.

Antennas 120 and/or 140 may include any type of antennas suitable fortransmitting and/or receiving wireless communication signals, blocks,frames, transmission streams, frames, messages and/or data. For example,antennas 120 and/or 140 may include any suitable configuration,structure and/or arrangement of one or more antenna elements,components, units, assemblies and/or arrays. Antennas 120 and/or 140 mayinclude, for example, antennas suitable for directional communication,e.g., using beamforming techniques. For example, antennas 120 and/or 140may include a phased array antenna, a multiple element antenna, a set ofswitched beam antennas, and/or the like. In some embodiments, antennas120 and/or 140 may implement transmit and receive functionalities usingseparate transmit and receive antenna elements. In some embodiments,antennas 120 and/or 140 may implement transmit and receivefunctionalities using common and/or integrated transmit/receiveelements.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 may alsoinclude, for example, a processor 122, an input interface 126, an outputinterface 128, a memory unit 124, and/or a storage unit 129; and/ormultiband APs 130 and/or 150 may also include, for example, a processor142, an input interface 146, an output interface 148, a memory unit 144,and/or a storage unit 149. Multiband mobile device 110 and/or multibandAPs 130 and/or 150 may optionally include other suitable hardwarecomponents and/or software components. In some demonstrativeembodiments, some or all of the components of Multiband mobile device110, and/or multiband APs 130 and/or 150 may be enclosed in a commonhousing or packaging, and may be interconnected or operably associatedusing one or more wired or wireless links. In other embodiments,components of Multiband mobile device 110, and/or multiband APs 130and/or 150 may be distributed among multiple or separate devices.

Processor 122 and/or processor 142 may include, for example, a CentralProcessing Unit (CPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), one or moreprocessor cores, a single-core processor, a dual-core processor, amultiple-core processor, a microprocessor, a host processor, acontroller, a plurality of processors or controllers, a chip, amicrochip, one or more circuits, circuitry, a logic unit, an IntegratedCircuit (IC), an Application-Specific IC (ASIC), or any other suitablemulti-purpose or specific processor or controller. For example,processor 122 executes instructions, for example, of an Operating System(OS) of multiband mobile device 110 and/or of one or more suitableapplications; and/or processor 142 executes instructions, for example,of an Operating System (OS) of multiband AP 130 and/or 150 and/or of oneor more suitable applications.

Memory unit 124 and/or memory unit 144 may include, for example, aRandom Access Memory (RAM), a Read Only Memory (ROM), a Dynamic RAM(DRAM), a Synchronous DRAM (SD-RAM), a flash memory, a volatile memory,a non-volatile memory, a cache memory, a buffer, a short term memoryunit, a long term memory unit, or other suitable memory units. Storageunit 129 and/or storage unit 149 may include, for example, a hard diskdrive, a floppy disk drive, a Compact Disk (CD) drive, a CD-ROM drive, aDVD drive, or other suitable removable or non-removable storage units.For example, memory unit 124 and/or storage unit 129, for example, maystore data processed by multiband mobile device 110, and/or memory unit144 and/or storage unit 149, for example, may store data processedmultiband APs 130 and/or 150.

Input interface 126 and/or input interface 146 may include, for example,a keyboard, a keypad, a mouse, a touch-screen, a touch-pad, atrack-ball, a stylus, a microphone, or other suitable pointing device orinput device. Output interface 128 and/or output interface 148 mayinclude, for example, a monitor, a screen, a touch-screen, a flat paneldisplay, a Cathode Ray Tube (CRT) display unit, a Liquid Crystal Display(LCD) display unit, a plasma display unit, one or more audio speakers orearphones, or other suitable output devices.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more elements of system 100may communicate with a cellular network 159.

In some demonstrative embodiments, cellular network 159 may include aGlobal System for Mobile (GSM) network, a Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS) network, a Long Term Evolution (LTE)network, an LTE-advanced network, a Fifth Generation (5G) network, orany other cellular network.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband APs 130 and/or 150 may beco-located, e.g., as part of an integrated pico-cell. Alternatively,multiband APs 130 and/or 150 may be deployed separately, e.g., asseparate WiFi APs “under” a macro cellular BS, e.g., cellular node 160.In one example, WiFi networks of multiband APs 130 and/or 150 may beauthenticated by an operator of cellular network 159. For example, APs130 and/or 150 and cellular node 160 may be deployed by the sameoperator. In other embodiments, APs 130 and/or 150 and cellular node 160may be deployed by different operators.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 may becapable of communicating with a cellular node 160 of cellular network159. For example, multiband mobile device 110 may include a cellulartransceiver (TRX) 113 to communicate with cellular node 160.

In some demonstrative embodiments, cellular TRX 113 may include WCDMAand/or TD-SCDMA modulators and/or demodulators (not shown) configured tocommunicate downlink signals over downlink channels, e.g., betweencellular node 106 and multiband mobile device 110, and uplink signalsover uplink channels, e.g., between multiband mobile device 110 andcellular node 160. In other embodiments, cellular TRX 113 may includeany other modulators and/or demodulators.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may be capable ofcommunicating with cellular network 159. For example, multiband AP 130may include a cellular interface 139 to communicate with cellularnetwork 159.

In some demonstrative embodiments, cellular interface 139 may include awireless interface, e.g., a cellular TRX, to communicate with cellularnetwork 159. In other embodiments, cellular interface 139 may include awired interface to communicate with cellular network 159.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more elements of system 100may perform the functionality of a HetNet, which may utilize adeployment of a mix of technologies, frequencies, cell sizes and/ornetwork architectures, for example, including cellular, WLAN, and/or thelike.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the HetNet architecture may enableutilizing a mixture of wireless communication environments, e.g., a WLANenvironment and a cellular environment, for example, to optimallyrespond to rapid changes in customer demand, reduce power consumption,reduce cost, increase efficiency and/or achieve any other benefit.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the HetNet may be configured toprovide a service through a first wireless communication environment,e.g., a cellular network, and to maintain the service when switching toanother communication environment, e.g., WLAN.

In one example, elements of system 100 may utilize a Multi-tier,Multi-Radio Access Technology (Multi-RAT) Het-Net architecture,including a tier of small cells, e.g., pico, femto, relay stations, WiFiAPs, and the like, overlaid on top of a macro cellular deployment, e.g.,configured to augment network capacity. For example, the small cells maybe deployed within the coverage area of the macro cells.

In another example, elements of system 100 may utilize Multi-RAT smallcells integrating multiple radios such as WiFi and 3GPP air interfacesin a single infrastructure device. In other embodiments, system 100 mayimplement any other architecture and/or deployment.

In some demonstrative embodiments, elements of system 100 may bedeployed to include a network of a plurality of cells, e.g., smallcells, which may be configured, for example, to deliver data to/frommobile users in order, for example, to substantially increase thethroughput of the entire network.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a cell may include a wirelesscommunication node, which may be configured to cover and/or serve aplurality of users, for example, mobile devices, e.g., User Equipment(UE), nodes of one or more other cells, e.g., other small cells, relaynodes, and the like. The wireless communication node may include orperform the functionality of a Base Station (BS), an Access Point (AP),a Node B, an LTE node, an LTE evolved node B (eNB), and the like. Thedeployment of the small cells may provide, for example, high-speedwireless access for communication by many users, e.g., simultaneously.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the size of a small cell may beconfigured, for example, such that the wireless communication node maybe able to cover the small cell. In one example, the small cell may havea coverage range of about 10-100 meters, or any other range. In somedemonstrative embodiments, a relatively large number of small cell basestations may be deployed to cover substantial areas such as a city orseveral blocks in the city. In one example, elements of system 100 maybe deployed, for example, in outdoor spaces, e.g., a street, a stadium,and the like, and/or large indoor areas, e.g., conference halls, officebuildings, shopping malls, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more elements of system 100may be configured to enable efficient and/or improved, e.g., optimized,usage of the plurality of wireless communication bands supported bymultiband mobile device 110 and/or multiband APs 130 and/or 150, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110,multiband AP 130 and/or multiband AP 150 may be configured to enableselective traffic steering between wireless communication bands and/orbetween networks of system 100, for example, based on one or morecriteria and/or parameters, e.g., as described in detail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110,multiband AP 130 and/or multiband AP 150 may be configured to enableselecting a wireless communication band to communicate between multibandmobile device 110 and multiband AP 130 or multiband AP 150, for example,based on one or more criteria and/or parameters, e.g., as described indetail below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110,multiband AP 130 and/or multiband AP 150 may be configured to select thewireless communication band to communicate between multiband mobiledevice 110 and multiband AP 130 or multiband AP 150, for example, basedon a load balancing criterion configured to balance loads between two ormore wireless communication bands, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110,multiband AP 130 and/or multiband AP 150 may be configured to select thewireless communication band to communicate between multiband mobiledevice 110 and multiband AP 130 or multiband AP 150, for example, basedon a band performance criterion, for example, an interference managementparameter, a capacity parameter, and the like, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110,multiband AP 130 and/or multiband AP 150 may be configured to select thewireless communication band to communicate between multiband mobiledevice 110 and multiband AP 130 or multiband AP 150, for example, basedon a performance criterion corresponding to a performance of multibandmobile device 110. In one example, the performance criterion may relateto a power state and/or a battery state of multiband mobile device 110,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, one or more elements of system 100may be configured to enable band steering of multiband mobile device 110between the wireless communication bands supported by multiband mobiledevice 110, load balancing between the plurality of wirelesscommunication bands supported by APs 130 and/or 150, and/or otheroperational procedures with respect to the wireless communication bandssupported by multiband mobile device 110 and/or multiband APs 130 and/or150, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110,multiband AP 130 and/or multiband AP 150 may be configured to facilitateAP-centric (also referred to as “AP controlled”) band steering.

The phrase “AP controlled band steering” as used herein may refer toselection, by a multiband AP, e.g., multiband AP 130, of at least onewireless communication band to be used by a multiband mobile device,e.g., multiband mobile device 110, to communicate traffic, e.g., alltraffic or one or more types of traffic.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may be configured toselect for multiband mobile device 110 a wireless communication band tobe used by multiband mobile device 110 to communicate with multiband AP130.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may receive, e.g.,from multiband mobile device 110, information indicating the pluralityof wireless communication bands supported by multiband mobile device110, and controller 138 may select from the plurality of wirelesscommunication bands supported by multiband mobile device 110 a selectedband to be used by multiband mobile device 110 to communicate withmultiband AP 130, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may be configured toselect a band to be used by multiband mobile device 110 to communicateall traffic with multiband AP 130.

In other embodiments, controller 138 may be configured to select two ormore wireless communication bands to be used by multiband mobile device110 to communicate with multiband AP 130. For example, controller 138may select a first band to be used by multiband mobile device 110 tocommunicate traffic of one or more first traffic types, and a secondband to be used by multiband mobile device 110 to communicate traffic ofone or more second traffic types.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110,multiband AP 130 and/or multiband AP 150 may be configured to facilitatemobile-device-centric (also referred to as “mobile device controlled”)band steering.

The phrase “mobile device controlled band steering” as used herein mayrefer to selection, by a multiband mobile device, e.g., multiband mobiledevice 110, of at least one wireless communication band to be used bythe multiband mobile device for communicating traffic, e.g., all trafficor one or more types of traffic.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 118 may be configured toselect for multiband mobile device 110 a wireless communication band tobe used by multiband mobile device 110 to communicate with multiband AP130.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 mayreceive, e.g., from multiband AP 130, information (“the band conditioninformation”) indicating one or more conditions of the plurality ofwireless communication bands supported by multiband mobile device 110.Controller 118 may select from the plurality of wireless communicationbands supported by multiband mobile device 110 a selected band to beused by multiband mobile device 110 to communicate with multiband AP130, for example, based on the band condition information, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the selected band to be used bymultiband mobile device 110 to communicate with multiband AP 130 may beselected, e.g., by controller 118, for example, to provide improved,e.g., optimized, Quality of Experience (QoE) to multiband mobile device110, and/or based on any other selection criteria, e.g., based on apower state and/or a battery state of multiband mobile device 110.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 118 may be configured toselect a band to be used by multiband mobile device 110 to communicateall traffic with multiband AP 130.

In other embodiments, controller 118 may be configured to select two ormore wireless communication bands to be used by multiband mobile device110 to communicate with multiband AP 130. For example, controller 118may select a first band to be used by multiband mobile device 110 tocommunicate traffic of one or more first traffic types, e.g.,corresponding to a particular class of applications, and a second bandto be used by multiband mobile device 110 to communicate traffic of oneor more second traffic types, e.g., corresponding to a different classof applications.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may be configured tosteer multiband mobile device 110 to communicate with another wirelesscommunication device, for example, another AP, e.g., multiband AP 150,or with another network, for example, cellular network 159.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may be configured tosteer only some traffic streams of multiband mobile device 110. Forexample, multiband AP 130 may steer only some traffic streams ofmultiband mobile device 110, e.g., traffic of one or more first traffictypes, to the other wireless communication device. According to thisexample, multiband mobile device 110 may communicate one or more othertraffic streams, e.g., traffic of one or more second traffic types, withmultiband AP 130.

In other embodiments, multiband AP 130 may be configured to steermultiband mobile device 110 to communicate all traffic with the otherwireless communication device.

In other embodiments, multiband AP 130 may be configured to steermultiband mobile device 110 to communicate with the other wirelesscommunication device, for example, based on a load of the wirelesscommunication bands supported by multiband AP 130, e.g., as describedbelow. Additionally or alternatively, multiband AP 130 may be configuredto steer multiband mobile device 110 to communicate with the otherwireless communication device, based on any other parameter, forexample, an interference management criterion relating to aninterference of the wireless communication bands supported by multibandAP 130, a capacity management criterion relating to a capacity of thewireless communication bands supported by multiband AP 130, and/or anyother parameter or criterion.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may be configured tosteer multiband mobile device 110 to communicate with the other wirelesscommunication device, for example, based on a load of the wirelesscommunication bands supported by the other wireless communicationdevice, for example, the load of the wireless communication bandssupported by multiband AP 150, e.g., as described below. Additionally oralternatively, multiband AP 130 may be configured to steer multibandmobile device 110 to communicate with the other wireless communicationdevice, based on any other parameter, for example, an interferencemanagement criterion relating to an interference of the wirelesscommunication bands supported by multiband AP 150, a capacity managementcriterion relating to a capacity of the wireless communication bandssupported by multiband AP 150, and/or any other parameter or criterion.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may be configured tosteer one or more traffic streams, or all traffic streams, of multibandmobile device 110 to the other wireless communication device, e.g., tomultiband AP 150 or to cellular node 160, for example, while maintaininga session continuity during the traffic steering, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may receiveinformation (“pre-provisioning information”) corresponding to bands ofcellular network 159, e.g., from cellular network 159, and/orpre-provisioning information corresponding to one or more networks ofmultiband AP 150, e.g., from multiband AP 150.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may decide, forexample, based on the pre-provisioning information, whether to enablemultiband mobile device 110 to connect to multiband AP 130 and/orwhether to steer multiband mobile device 110 to multiband AP 150 and/orto cellular network 159.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may select theselected band to be used by multiband mobile device 110 to communicatewith multiband AP 130, for example, based on the pre-provisioninginformation.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may decide, forexample, based on the pre-provisioning information, whether to steermultiband mobile device 110 to multiband AP 150, or to cellular network159, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may be configured tocoordinate with multiband AP 150 one or more wireless communicationbands to be used by multiband APS 130 and/or 150, and/or to coordinateload balancing of the wireless communication bands supported by APs 130and 150.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may be configured tocoordinate with multiband AP 150 steering of multiband mobile devicesbetween multiband APs 130 and/or 150, for example, while maintainingsession continuity, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 andmultiband APs 130 and/or 150 may be configured to preserve sessionconnectivity, e.g., Internet Protocol (IP) session connectivity, whensteering traffic across bands.

In one example, one or more traffic flows of multiband mobile device 110may be steered between a source band and a target band with the same AP,e.g., different bands supported by multiband AP 130. According to thisexample, the same IP address may be used across the traffic flows, and aLayer 2 (L2) connectivity may be changed across the source and trafficbands. For example, L2 communication may be resumed, e.g., oncemultiband mobile device 110 associates with multiband AP 130 on thetarget band, and multiband mobile device 110 may send to multiband AP130 a command, e.g., a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) renewcommand, to reclaim the IP address corresponding to the traffic flows onthe target band, e.g., without requiring any disruption.

In another example, one or more traffic flows of multiband mobile device110 may be steered between a source AP, e.g., multiband AP 130, and atarget AP, e.g., multiband AP 150. According to this example, multibandmobile device 110 may associate with the target AP, and try to reclaimthe same IP address, if available. If the same IP address cannot bereclaimed, multiband mobile device 110 may use suitable Mobile IPprocedures to re-establish Layer 3 (L3) connectivity.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may transmit tomultiband mobile device 110 band condition information corresponding toband conditions of one or more wireless communication bands supported bymultiband mobile device 110. For example, multiband AP 130 may transmitthe band condition information to multiband mobile device 110, inresponse to a request from multiband mobile device 110, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, transmitter 134 may transmit a beaconincluding multiband capability information indicating a plurality ofwireless communication bands supported by multiband AP 130, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, transmitter 134 may broadcast, e.g.,as part of a beacon, band condition information corresponding to bandconditions of one or more wireless communication bands supported bymultiband AP 130. The band condition information may, for example,enable multiband mobile device 110 to select a wireless communicationband to communicate with multiband AP 130, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, transmitter 114 may transmit to AP114 a first message including multiband capability informationindicating a plurality of supported wireless communication bands ofmultiband mobile device 110, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, receiver 136 may receive the firstmessage from multiband mobile device 110.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may select a selectedwireless communication band from the plurality of wireless communicationbands supported by multiband mobile device 110, and transmitter 134 maytransmit to multiband mobile device 110 a second message including anindication of the selected wireless communication band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may select theselected wireless communication band, for example, based on a load ofthe selected wireless communication band. For example, controller 138may select a selected wireless communication band to include a bandhaving the least load, e.g., compared to the load of other wirelesscommunication bands supported by multiband mobile device 110.

In other embodiments, controller 138 may select the selected wirelesscommunication band, for example, based on any other additional oralternative criterion and/or parameter, for example, based on a Qualityof Service (Qos) criterion, a QoE criterion, an interference managementcriterion relating to an interference level of the selected wirelesscommunication band, a type of traffic to be communicated over theselected wireless communication band, a capacity of the selectedwireless communication band, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, receiver 116 may receive the secondmessage from multiband AP 130.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 118 may controltransmitter 114 and receiver 116 to communicate with multiband AP 130over the selected wireless communication band, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 maytransmit the first message as a pre-association query message, e.g.,prior to association with multiband AP 130, for example, to querymultiband AP 130 for a preferred wireless communication band to be usedfor communicating between multiband mobile device 110 and multiband AP130. According to these embodiments, multiband AP 130 may transmit thesecond message in response to the pre-association query message, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may transmit thesecond message in the form of an offloading message to offload multibandmobile device 110 to another wireless communication device (“theoffloading device”), e.g., to multiband AP 150, as described below. Inone example, controller 138 may select the offloading device when a loadof each of the plurality of supported wireless communication bands of AP130 is above a predefined overload threshold, e.g., as described below.Controller 138 may select the offloading device based on any otheradditional or alternative parameter and/roc criterion.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may receive thepre-provisioning information from the offloading device, e.g., frommultiband AP 150, offloading assistance information, and controller 138may select the selected wireless communication band to be used forcommunication between multiband mobile device 110 and the offloadingdevice, for example, based on the pre-provisioning information, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may transmit thesecond message in the form of a steering message to steer multibandmobile device 110 from communicating one or more types of traffic, e.g.,all traffic or only some of the traffic, from another wirelesscommunication band to the selected wireless communication band.

For example, Receiver 116 may receive the steering message, andcontroller 118 may steer multiband mobile device 110 to the selectedwireless communication band, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may decide to steermultiband mobile device 110 between first and second wirelesscommunication bands, for example, based on band conditions of the firstand second wireless communication bands, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may utilize the secondmessage to perform pre-association band steering for load balancing,e.g., as described below. In other embodiments, controller 138 mayutilize the second message to perform pre-association band steeringbased on an interference management criterion, a QoS criterion, and/orany other criterion and/or parameter.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may be configured toselect to steer one or more traffic streams of multiband mobile device110 to another wireless communication device, e.g., to multiband AP 150or to cellular node 160, based on one or more network managementparameters. For example, transmitter 134 may transmit to multibandmobile device 110 a steering message to steer one or more trafficstreams of multiband mobile device 110 to the other wirelesscommunication device, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may be configured toselect to steer one or more traffic streams of multiband mobile device110 to the other wireless communication device, prior to multiband AP130 associating with multiband mobile device 110.

For example, transmitter 114 may transmit a request to associate frommultiband mobile device 110 to multiband AP 130. Receiver 136 mayreceive the request to associate from multiband mobile device 110, andcontroller 138 may select to steer multiband mobile device 110 to theother wireless communication device, for example, if the request toassociate is to be rejected by multiband AP 130, e.g., as describedbelow.

In some demonstrative embodiments, transmitter 134 may transmit thesecond message including a neighbor Access-Point (AP) InformationElement (IE), which may include the indication of the selected wirelesscommunication band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the first message and/or the secondmessage may include an Access Network Query Protocol (ANQP) message,e.g., as described below.

Following is a description of some multiband management implementations,which may be utilized with respect to some deployments of system 100, inaccordance with some demonstrative embodiments. In other embodiments,elements of system 100 may be configured to perform any other bandselection, traffic steering and/or offloading operations.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a Hotspot service provider may deploya wide scale Wi-Fi network including a plurality of multi-band APs,e.g., including multiband APs 130 and 150, operating on multiple bands,e.g., including the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. The serviceprovider may configure multiband APs 130 and 150 to control selection ofthe band, or channels on a specific band, which may be used byindividual multiband mobile devices, e.g., multiband mobile device 110,for initial association with the multiband APs.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the service provider may configuremultiband APs 130 and 150 to control the band to be used for associationwith multiband mobile device 110, for example, based on locally observedloading on each supported band or channel. The observed band loading maybe measured, for example, in terms of interference from own neighbor APsof the service provider, APs of other surrounding networks, and/or orother devices operating in the band in proximity. The band loading maybe determined based on any other additional or alternative informationand/or criterion.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 maydetect multiband AP 130, and may query multiband AP 130 for a suggestedband to associate with multiband AP 130, e.g., without multiband mobiledevice 110 having to scan all supported bands. For example, transmitter114 may transmit to multiband AP 130 a query message to query for thepreferred band, e.g., as described above. Transmitter 114 may transmitthe query message on a wireless communication band chosen by multibandmobile device 110. The query message may include the indication of thewireless communication bands supported by multiband mobile device 110,e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may be aware ofcurrent loading conditions on the wireless communication bands supportedby multiband AP 130. Controller 138 may also be configured with a loadbalancing strategy, e.g., as defined by the service provider.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may select from theplurality of wireless communication bands supported by multiband mobiledevice 110 a selected band based on eh load balancing strategy, e.g., aband, which is supported by multiband AP 130, and which may be leastloaded. Multiband AP 130 may transmit to multiband mobile device 110 aresponse indicating the selected band, e.g., as described above.Multiband mobile device 110 may be connected to a current band, whichmay be different from the selected band. Controller 118 may take theselected band into account, and may control multiband mobile device 110to connect to multiband AP 130 on the selected band. A mobile device maynot be capable of multiband communication. Such mobile device may ignorethe indication of the selected band from multiband AP 130, and mayconnect to multiband AP 130 using a band supported by the mobile device.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may also utilize theload balancing strategy to elect to move an already associated multibandmobile device to another band, e.g., to balance the load between thebands supported by multiband AP 130.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 mayperform a scanning procedure to discover an AP and/or network.Controller 138 may have visibility of the load on multiband AP 130,e.g., per band supported by multiband AP 130. Controller 138 maydetermine a least loaded band supported by multiband AP 130.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may determine that anoperating band of multiband AP 130 may be too congested, e.g., toaccommodate at least some of the traffic of multiband mobile device 110.According to these embodiments, controller 138 may control transmitter134 to transmit to multiband mobile device 110 a message requestingmultiband mobile device to connect to multiband AP 130 over anotherselected wireless communication band. In one example, transmitter 134may transmit a Neighbor AP Information Element (IE) including anindication of the selected band. Multiband mobile device 110 may beconnected to a current band, which may be different from the selectedband. Controller 118 may take the selected band into account, and maycontrol multiband mobile device 110 to connect to multiband AP 130 onthe selected band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 mayattempt to associate to multiband AP 130, when all bands supported bymultiband AP 130 may be congested, e.g., having a congestion levelgreater than a predefined congestion threshold. According to theseembodiments, controller 138 may select to reject an association requestfrom multiband mobile device 110.

In some demonstrative embodiments, transmitter 114 may transmit tomultiband mobile device 110 a response to the association requestincluding an indication of another neighbor multiband AP, e.g.,multiband AP 150, which may be less loaded.

In some demonstrative embodiments, transmitter 114 may transmit tomultiband mobile device 110 a response to the association requestincluding an indication of a wireless communication band to be used forassociating with the other multiband AP.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may offload multibandmobile device 110 to the same band or to a different band on aneighboring BSS at association, by performing a hybrid operationincluding both a band steering operation and a load balancing operation.In one example, transmitter 134 may transmit to multiband mobile device110 a BSS Transition request to redirect mobile device to AP 150, e.g.,post association.

Reference is made to FIG. 2, which schematically illustrates adeployment of a system 200, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

As shown in FIG. 2, system 200 may include a dual-band AP 202 supportingcommunication over the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. For example, AP202 may perform the functionality of multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 2, AP 202 may communicate over the 2.4 GHz band with alaptop 204 and a laptop 206. For example, laptop 204 may supportcommunication only over the 2.4 GHz band, while laptop 206 may supportcommunication over both the 2.4 GHz band and over the 5 GHz band.

As shown in FIG. 2, a dual-band tablet computer 208 may supportcommunication over both the 2.4 GHz band and the 5 GHz band. Forexample, dual-band tablet computer 208 may perform the functionality ofmultiband mobile device 110 (FIG. 1).

In some demonstrative embodiments, dual-band tablet computer 208 mayscan and detect AP 202 over the 2.4 GHz band. Dual-band tablet computer208 may request to associate with AP 202 over the 2.4 GHz band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, AP 202 may select to reject therequest to associate from tablet computer 208, for example, if the 2.4GHz band is congested, e.g., by traffic being communicated with laptops204 and 206.

In some demonstrative embodiments, AP 202 may send to dual-band laptopcomputer 208 a message 210 over the 2.4 Ghz band. Message 210 mayinclude an indication that tablet computer 208 is to connect with AP 202over the 5 GHz band, e.g., if the 5 GHz band is not congested. Forexample, message 210 may include a Neighbor AP IE.

As shown in FIG. 2, tablet computer 208 may receive message 210 andestablish a connection 212 with AP 202 over the 5 GHz band.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments, controller118 may be configured to perform pre-association band steering atmultiband mobile device 110, for example, based on one or more criteriarelating to a performance of multiband mobile device 110, for example, abattery state of multiband mobile device 110, e.g., as described below.

In other embodiments, controller 118 may be configured to performpre-association band steering at multiband mobile device 110 based onany additional or alternative criteria, for example, based on bandconditions, e.g., load, interference, and the like, of the plurality ofwireless communication bands supported by multiband mobile device 110;based on one or more application-related criteria corresponding to oneor more applications being executed by multiband mobile device 110,e.g., one or more QoE requirements, one or more QoS requirements, andthe like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband APs 130 and/or 150 may beconfigured to transmit information (“the band selection assistanceinformation”) to assist multiband mobile device 110 in selecting thewireless communication band to be used for associating with multibandAPs 130 and/or 150, e.g., without multiband mobile device 110 having toscan all channels in all bands supported by multiband mobile device 110.Enabling controller 118 to selecting the wireless communication band tobe used for associating with multiband APs 130 and/or 150, withoutmultiband mobile device 110 having to scan all channels in all bandssupported by multiband mobile device 110, may enable reducing a powerconsumption of multiband mobile device 110.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the band selection assistanceinformation may include, for example, current operating channels on ormore, e.g., all, the bands supported by multiband mobile device 110,loading conditions on the bands and/or channels, a capacity of the bandsand/or channels, interference conditions on the bands and/or channels,and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 maydetect a multiband AP, e.g., multiband AP 130, and may select a band toquery detected multiband AP for band selection assistance information.

In some demonstrative embodiments, transmitter 114 may transmit tomultiband AP 130 a request for the band selection assistanceinformation. Receiver 136 may receive the request for the band selectionassistance information, and transmitter 134 may transmit a responseincluding the band selection assistance information.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 andmultiband AP 130 may exchange the request and response for the bandselection assistance information using one or more ANQP messages, e.g.,as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, transmitter 134 may broadcast bandselection assistance information relating to the wireless communicationbands supported by multiband AP 130. For example, transmitter 134 maybroadcast the band selection assistance information as part of a beacon.Receiver 116 may receive the band selection assistance informationbroadcasted by multiband AP 130.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 118 may use the bandselection assistance information to select a band to connect tomultiband AP 130, e.g., without needing to scan all bands supported bymultiband mobile device 110.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 118 may autonomouslydetermine a preferred band to connect to multiband AP 130, for example,based on the band selection assistance information and/or consideringlocal conditions of multiband mobile device 110, e.g., a battery levelof mobile device 110, a power state of multiband mobile device 110, theperformance-related parameters of multiband mobile device 110, and thelike.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the band selection assistanceinformation may include an indication of a preferred band, which may bedetermined by controller 138, and controller 118 may consider using thepreferred band, e.g., unless local conditions prevent the selection ofthe preferred band.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may be configured toperform pre-association band steering at multiband AP 130, for example,to steer traffic of multiband mobile device 110 between different RATs,for example, between a WLAN of multiband AP 130 and cellular network159, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, controller 138 may steer the trafficof multiband mobile device 110 between multiband AP 130 and cellularnetwork 159, for example, based on a throughput criterion, e.g., asdescribed below. In other embodiments, controller 138 may steer thetraffic of multiband mobile device 110 between multiband AP 130 andcellular network 159 based on any additional or alternative criterion.

Reference is made to FIG. 3, which schematically illustrates adeployment of a system 300, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

As shown in FIG. 3, system 300 may include an AP 302 and a cellular node304. For example, AP 202 may perform the functionality of multiband AP130 (FIG. 1), and/or cellular node 304 may perform the functionality ofcellular node 160 (FIG. 1).

As shown in FIG. 3, a multi-mode station (STA) 306 may have both Wi-Ficonnectivity and cellular connectivity. For example, multi-mode STA 306may perform the functionality of multiband mobile device 110 (FIG. 1).

In some demonstrative embodiments, multi-mode STA 306 may attempt toassociate with AP 302. AP 302 may have knowledge of current conditionsof the plurality of bands supported by AP 302, for example, current loadconditions, current interference conditions, Uplink-Downlink (U/L)signal strength, a network connection status, and the like, e.g., asdescribed above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, AP 302 may select not to accept therequest from multi-mode STA 306 to associate with AP 302, for example,based on one or more of the current conditions and/or one or morepredefined management criteria, e.g., a load threshold.

In some demonstrative embodiments, AP 302 may explicitly steermulti-mode STA 306 to a cellular node 304. Steering multi-mode STA 306to cellular node 304 may enable managing the load of AP 302, forexample, while maintaining and/or improving a user experience of theuser of multi-mode STA 306.

In some demonstrative embodiments, AP 302 may be configured to performpost-association band steering, for example, to steer traffic ofmulti-mode STA 306 between AP 302 and cellular node 304, e.g., asdescribed below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, AP 302 may steer the traffic ofmulti-mode STA 306 between AP 302 and cellular node 304, for example,based on an interference criterion, e.g., as described below. In otherembodiments, AP 302 may steer the traffic of multi-mode STA 306 betweenAP 302 and cellular node 304 based on any additional or alternativecriterion.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multi-mode STA 306 may be associatedwith AP 302. AP 302 may have knowledge of current conditions of theplurality of bands supported by AP 302, for example, current loadconditions, current interference conditions, Uplink-Downlink (U/L)signal strength, a network connection status, and the like, e.g., asdescribed above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, at a certain point in time, one ormore of the current conditions may reach an unacceptable level, forexample, an interference level may reach a predefined interferencethreshold.

In some demonstrative embodiments, AP 302, e.g., controller 138 (FIG. 1)may explicitly steer multi-mode STA 306 to cellular node 304. Steeringmulti-mode STA 306 to cellular node 304 may enable managing the load ofAP 302, for example, while maintaining and/or improving a userexperience of the user of multi-mode STA 306.

In some demonstrative embodiments, AP 302 may become overloaded, forexample, due to additional STAs associating with AP 302. According tothese embodiments, AP 302, e.g., controller 138 (FIG. 1) may direct oneor more STAs, e.g., including STA 306, which are already associated withAP 302, to a neighbor AP, e.g., to AP 150 (FIG. 1). In one example, AP302 may send to multi-mode STA 306 an autonomous BSS Transition requestincluding a Target BSSID of neighboring BSS managed by the neighbor AP.

Reference is made to FIG. 4, which schematically illustrates a sequenceof operations and interactions between a mobile device 402, a first AP404, a second AP 406, and a cellular module 408, in accordance with somedemonstrative embodiments. For example, mobile device may perform thefunctionality of multiband mobile device 110 (FIG. 1), AP 404 mayperform the functionality of multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1), AP 406 mayperform the functionality of multiband AP 150 (FIG. 1), and/or cellularmodule 408 may perform the functionality of a cellular module ofcellular network 159 (FIG. 1).

In some demonstrative embodiments, cellular module 408 may include anoperating, administrative and maintenance (OA&M) module. For examplecellular module 408 may be implemented as part of cellular node 160(FIG. 1) or as part of any other element of cellular network 159 (FIG.1).

As shown in FIG. 4, AP 404 may be pre-provisioned with information 410about overlapping cellular coverage, e.g., cellular module 408.

As shown in FIG. 4, AP 404 may advertise multi-band capabilities of AP404 via one or more beacons 412, e.g., as described above.

As shown in FIG. 4, AP 404 may exchange with mobile device 402 one ormore ANQP messages 414 including multiband capability informationcorresponding to AP 404 and/or mobile device 402, e.g., as describedabove. The multiband capability information may include, for example,information of bands supported by AP 404 and/or mobile device 402,and/or whether or information relating to support of traffic steeringcapabilities of AP 404 and/or mobile device 402. Additional informationthat may be included, for example, in Associate Response, Disassociatemessage reason codes, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, AP 404 may exchange with mobile device 402 one ormore ANQP messages 416 as part of a pre-association steering, forexample, to select a band to communicate between mobile device 402 andAP 404, e.g., as described above.

As shown in FIG. 4, AP 404 may exchange with mobile device 402 one ormore associate request and/or response messages 418, for example, toassociate between mobile device 402 and AP 404 over the selected band,e.g., as described above.

As shown in FIG. 4, AP 404 may perform with mobile device 402 one ormore pos-association operations 420, e.g., an authentication operation.

As shown in FIG. 4, AP 404 may exchange with mobile device 402 one ormore messages and/or measurement reports including load information 422and/or interference measurements 426. For example, message 422 mayinclude BSS Load information, backhaul load information, a load on eachof the supported bands, and the like. Message 426 may include, forexample, interference conditions, e.g., based on Signal to Noise Ratio(SNR) measurements, and the like.

In one example, messages 422 and/or 426 may include dedicated ANQPmessages, for example, based on a Generic Advertisement Service (GAS)protocol, e.g., as described below. Alternatively, messages 422 and/or426 may be included as part of any other messages, e.g., piggybacked onback of an Associate Response, a Disassociate message, or the like.

As shown in FIG. 4, AP 404 may exchange with AP 406 one or more inter-APcoordination messages 424, for example, to determine relative loadlevels and/or radio conditions, which may be used by AP 404 to decidewhether to steer mobile device 402 to AP 406, e.g., as described above.

As shown in FIG. 4, AP 404 may exchange with mobile device 402 one ormore post-association band-steering commands 428, for example, to steermobile device 402 from a first band to a second band, e.g., as describedabove.

In one example, post-association band-steering commands 428 may becommunicated via dedicated ANQP messages, e.g., as described below.Alternatively, post-association band-steering commands 428 may beincluded as part of any other messages, e.g., piggybacked on back of anAssociate Response, a Disassociate message, or the like, or as part ofdedicated WLAN messages.

As shown in FIG. 4, mobile device 402 may disassociate (430) from AP404, e.g., based on load information 422, interference information 426,and/or steering commands 428.

As shown in FIG. 4, mobile device 402 may associate (432) with AP 406,e.g., based on load information 422, interference information 426,and/or steering commands 428.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments multiband AP130 and multiband mobile device 110 may communicate one or more ANQPmessages including multiband information and/or band steering commands,e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 and multiband mobiledevice 110 may communicate one or more ANQP elements, for example, ANQPvendor-specific elements, e.g., as described below.

In some demonstrative embodiments, an ANQP element may include a field(“the Subtype field”), which may identify a type of the ANQP element,which may be configured to include a Subtype value representing aMultiband information element or a band steering Command element, e.g.,according to the following Table:

TABLE 1 Subtype Element Name Value Extensible Reserved 0 HS Query list 1HS Capability list 2 Operator Friendly Name 3 WAN Metrics 4 YesConnection Capability 5 NAI Home Realm Query 6 Operating ClassIndication 7 OSU Providers list 8 Yes Reserved 9 Icon Request 10 IconBinary File 11 Multi Band Information 12 Band Steering Command 13Reserved 14-255

In one example, multiband AP 130 and/or multiband mobile device 110 maycommunicate a Multiband information ANQP element having the Subtypefield value set to 12. In another example, multiband AP 130 and/ormultiband mobile device 110 may communicate a Band Steering Command ANQPelement having the Subtype field value set to 13.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may transmit acapability message to indicate a capability of multiband AP 130 tosupport multi-band information and/or to support band steeringoperations; and/or multiband mobile device 110 may transmit a capabilitymessage to indicate a capability of multiband mobile device 110 tosupport multi-band information and/or to support band steeringoperations.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the capability message may include acapability list ANQP message, e.g., a Hot Spot (HS) Capability list ANQPmessage.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a multiband device, e.g., multibandAP 130 or multiband mobile device 110, may transmit a capabilitymessage, e.g., an HS Capability ANQP message, including a subtype filedhaving a value to indicate the a capability of the multiband device tosupport multi-band information, e.g., the value 12 according to Table 1.

In some demonstrative embodiments, a multiband device, e.g., multibandAP 130 or multiband mobile device 110, may transmit a capabilitymessage, e.g., an HS Capability ANQP message, including a subtype filedhaving a value to indicate the a capability of the multiband device tosupport band steering operations, e.g., the value 13 according to Table1.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 may transmit aMulti-Band Information ANQP message including a list of bands supportedby multiband AP 130. For example, transmitter 134 may transmit theMulti-Band Information ANQP message to multiband mobile device 110,e.g., in response to a GAS Query Request from multiband mobile device110.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile device 110 maytransmit a Multi-Band Information ANQP message including a list of bandssupported by multiband mobile device 110. For example, transmitter 114may transmit the Multi-Band Information ANQP message to multiband AP130, for example, as part of a pre-association query, e.g., as describedabove.

In one example, multiband mobile device 110 may assume that multiband AP130 supports HS ANQP-elements, e.g., upon discovering multiband AP 130includes a HS AP, e.g., a HS 2.0 AP.

Reference is made to FIG. 5, which schematically illustrates a MultibandInformation ANQP message 500, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

As shown in FIG. 5, Multiband Information ANQP message 500 may includeone or more values (“Supported band”) 502 indicating one or morerespective bands supported by a multiband device transmitting MultibandInformation ANQP message 500.

In one example, Multiband Information ANQP message 500 may betransmitted by transmitter 134 (FIG. 1) to indicate one or more bandssupported by multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1).

In another example, Multiband Information ANQP message 500 may betransmitted by transmitter 114 (FIG. 1) to indicate one or more bandssupported by multiband mobile device 110 (FIG. 1).

In some demonstrative embodiments, a predefined specific Supported bandvalue 502 may be assigned to indicate each of the wireless communicationbands. In one example, Multiband Information ANQP message 500 mayinclude the Supported band values ordered by increasing frequency value.

In one example, the following values may be assigned to indicate thefollowing frequency bands:

TABLE 2 Supported Bands Band Value 1900 MHz (Cellular bands) 1 2.4 GHz 25.0 GHz 3 5150-5350 MHz 4 5370-5470 MHz 5 5470-5650 MHz 6 5725-5825 MHz7 5825-5925 MHz 8 60 GHz 9 TV White Space bands 10

In other embodiments, any other values may be assigned to the frequencybands of Table 1 and/or to any other one or more additional oralternative frequency bands.

Referring back to FIG. 1, in some demonstrative embodiments multibandmobile device 110 and/or multiband AP may be configured to transmit aBand Steering Command ANQP message, e.g., as described below.

In one example, transmitter 134 may transmit the Band Steering CommandANQP message to multiband mobile device 110, e.g., to request multibandmobile device 110 to steer communications from one band to another.

In another example, transmitter 114 may transmit the Band SteeringCommand ANQP message to multiband AP 130, e.g., to indicate to multibandAP 130 that multiband mobile device 110 is to steer communications fromone band to another.

In some demonstrative embodiments, the Band Steering Command ANQPmessage may include source band information relating to a bandcommunication is to be steered form (“source band”), if applicable, andtarget band information relating to a band to which communication is tobe steered (“target band”).

Reference is made to FIG. 6A, which schematically illustrates a BandSteering Command ANQP message 600, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments.

As shown in FIG. 6A, Band Steering Command ANQP message 600 may includea bit 602 to indicate whether Band Steering Command ANQP message 600includes a source band information tuple 606, and a bit 604 to indicatewhether Band Steering Command ANQP message 600 includes a target bandinformation tuple 608. For example, some Band Steering Command ANQPmessages 600 may not include Source band information tuple 606.

Reference is also made to FIG. 6B, which schematically illustrates aband information tuple 630. For example, source band information tuple606 may include band information tuple 630 and/or target bandinformation tuple 608 may include band information tuple 630.

As shown in FIG. 6B, band information tuple 630 may include a bandfrequency 632. For example, band frequency 632 may include a source bandfrequency in Source band information tuple 606, and band frequency 632may include a target band frequency in Target band information tuple608. In one example, band frequency 632 may have a value assignedaccording to Table 2.

In some demonstrative embodiments, band information tuple 630 mayinclude an identifier 634, e.g., a BSS identifier (BSSID), of an AP,e.g., multiband AP (130), with which a multiband mobile device, e.g.,multiband mobile device 110 (FIG. 1), may be associated.

In some demonstrative embodiments, band information tuple 630 mayinclude an identifier 636, e.g., a Service Set Identifier (SSID) or aHomogenous Extended Service Set Identifier (HESSID), of a WLAN networkwith which the multiband mobile device may be associated.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1) maytransmit Band Steering Command ANQP message 600 to multiband mobiledevice 110 (FIG. 1), for example, to direct multiband mobile device 110to move some or all traffic from a source band defined according tosource band information tuple 606 to a target band defined according totarget band information tuple 608. Multiband mobile device 110 (FIG. 1)may receive the transmit Band Steering Command ANQP message 600.Multiband mobile device 110 (FIG. 1) may disassociate with the SSID ofthe source band, as indicated by source band information tuple 606, andmay associate with the SSID of the target band and re-establishconnectivity, according to target band information tuple 608.

In some demonstrative embodiments, multiband mobile station 110 (FIG. 1)may transmit Band Steering Command ANQP message 600 to multiband AP 130(FIG. 1), for example, to request to move from one band to another band.Multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1) may acknowledge or refuse the request.

Reference is made to FIG. 7, which schematically illustrates a method ofmultiband wireless communication, in accordance with some demonstrativeembodiments. For example, one or more operations of the method of FIG. 7may be performed by a system, e.g., system 100 (FIG. 1), a multibandmobile device, e.g., multiband mobile device 110 (FIG. 1), a multibandAP, e.g., multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1) and/or multiband AP 150 (FIG. 1), acontroller, e.g., controller 118 (FIG. 1) and/or controller 138 (FIG.1), and/or a multiband radio, e.g., multiband radio 112 (FIG. 1) and/ormultiband radio 132 (FIG. 1).

As indicated at block 702, the method may include transmitting from amobile device a first message to AP, the first message includingmultiband capability information indicating a plurality of supportedwireless communication bands of the mobile device. For example,transmitter 114 (FIG. 1) may transmit to multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1) amessage, e.g., an ANQP message, including multiband capabilityinformation indicating a plurality of supported wireless communicationbands of multiband mobile device 110 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 704, the method may include receiving the firstmessage at the AP. For example, receiver 136 (FIG. 1) may receive themessage, e.g., the ANQP message, including the multiband capabilityinformation from multiband mobile device 110 (FIG. 1), e.g., asdescribed above.

As indicated at block 706, the method may include selecting a selectedwireless communication band from the plurality of supported wirelesscommunication bands. For example, controller 138 (FIG. 1) may select aband from the plurality of bands supported by multiband mobile device110 (FIG. 1) to be used to communicate traffic between multiband mobiledevice 110 (FIG. 1) and multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1), e.g., as describedabove.

As indicated at block 708, the method may include transmitting a secondmessage from the AP to the mobile device, the second message includingan indication of the selected wireless communication band. For example,transmitter 134 (FIG. 1) may transmit the second message to multibandmobile device 110 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 710, the method may include receiving the secondmessage at the mobile device. For example, receiver 116 (FIG. 1) mayreceive the second message from multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1) including anindication of the selected wireless communication band from theplurality of supported wireless communication bands of multiband mobiledevice 110 (FIG. 1).

As indicated at block 712, the method may include communicating betweenthe AP and the mobile device over the selected wireless communicationband. For example, controller 118 (FIG. 1) may control multiband mobiledevice 110 (FIG. 1) to communicate with multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1) overthe selected wireless communication band, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 714, the method may include steering traffic ofthe mobile device to another wireless communication device. For example,multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1) may steer traffic of multiband mobile device110 (FIG. 1) to another AP, e.g., multiband AP 150 (FIG. 1), or toanother network, e.g., to cellular network 159 (FIG. 1), e.g., asdescribed above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, steering the traffic of the mobiledevice may include steering the traffic before association with themobile device, for example, in response to a request to associate fromthe mobile device, e.g., as described above.

In some demonstrative embodiments, steering the traffic of the mobiledevice may include steering the traffic after association with themobile device, for example, based on a change in and or other bandconditions, e.g., as described above.

As indicated at block 716, the method may include communicating a beaconincluding multiband capability information indicating a plurality ofwireless communication bands supported by the AP. For example, multibandAP 130 (FIG. 1) may broadcast a beacon including the multibandcapability information indicating a plurality of wireless communicationbands supported by multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1), e.g., as described above.

Reference is made to FIG. 8, which schematically illustrates a productof manufacture 800, in accordance with some demonstrative embodiments.Product 800 may include one or more non-transitory machine-readablestorage mediums 802 to store logic 804, which may be used, for example,to perform at least part of the functionality of one or more elements ofa system, e.g., system 100 (FIG. 1), one or more elements of a multibandmobile device, e.g., multiband mobile device 110 (FIG. 1), one or moreelements of a multiband AP, e.g., multiband AP 130 (FIG. 1) and/ormultiband AP 150 (FIG. 1), a controller, e.g., controller 118 (FIG. 1)and/or controller 138 (FIG. 1), and/or a multiband radio, e.g.,multiband radio 112 (FIG. 1) and/or multiband radio 132 (FIG. 1), and/orto perform one or more operations of the method of FIG. 7. The phrase“non-transitory machine-readable medium” is directed to include allcomputer-readable media, with the sole exception being a transitorypropagating signal.

In some demonstrative embodiments, product 800 and/or machine-readablestorage medium 802 may include one or more types of computer-readablestorage media capable of storing data, including volatile memory,non-volatile memory, removable or non-removable memory, erasable ornon-erasable memory, writeable or re-writeable memory, and the like. Forexample, machine-readable storage medium 802 may include, RAM, DRAM,Double-Data-Rate DRAM (DDR-DRAM), SDRAM, static RAM (SRAM), ROM,programmable ROM (PROM), erasable programmable ROM (EPROM), electricallyerasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), Compact Disk ROM (CD-ROM), CompactDisk Recordable (CD-R), Compact Disk Rewriteable (CD-RW), flash memory(e.g., NOR or NAND flash memory), content addressable memory (CAM),polymer memory, phase-change memory, ferroelectric memory,silicon-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (SONOS) memory, a disk, a floppydisk, a hard drive, an optical disk, a magnetic disk, a card, a magneticcard, an optical card, a tape, a cassette, and the like. Thecomputer-readable storage media may include any suitable media involvedwith downloading or transferring a computer program from a remotecomputer to a requesting computer carried by data signals embodied in acarrier wave or other propagation medium through a communication link,e.g., a modem, radio or network connection.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 804 may include instructions,data, and/or code, which, if executed by one or more computing machines,may cause the one or more computing machines to perform a method,process and/or operations as described herein. The machine may include,for example, any suitable processing platform, computing platform,computing device, processing device, computing system, processingsystem, computer, processor, or the like, and may be implemented usingany suitable combination of hardware, software, firmware, and the like.

In some demonstrative embodiments, logic 804 may include, or may beimplemented as, software, a software module, an application, a program,a subroutine, instructions, an instruction set, computing code, words,values, symbols, and the like. The instructions may include any suitabletype of code, such as source code, compiled code, interpreted code,executable code, static code, dynamic code, and the like. Theinstructions may be implemented according to a predefined computerlanguage, manner or syntax, for instructing a processor to perform acertain function. The instructions may be implemented using any suitablehigh-level, low-level, object-oriented, visual, compiled and/orinterpreted programming language, such as C, C++, Java, BASIC, Matlab,Pascal, Visual BASIC, assembly language, machine code, and the like.

Examples

The following examples pertain to further embodiments.

Example 1 includes a multiband wireless communication device comprisinga receiver to receive a first message from a mobile device, the firstmessage including multiband capability information indicating aplurality of supported wireless communication bands of the mobiledevice; a controller to select a selected wireless communication bandfrom the plurality of supported wireless communication bands; and atransmitter to transmit a second message to the mobile device, thesecond message including an indication of the selected wirelesscommunication band.

Example 2 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally,wherein the first message comprises a pre-association query messageprior to association with the mobile device, the second message being inresponse to the pre-association query message.

Example 3 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises a steering message to steer trafficof the mobile device from another wireless communication band to theselected wireless communication band.

Example 4 includes the subject matter of Example 1, and optionally,wherein the controller is to select an offloading device when a load ofeach of the plurality of supported wireless communication bands is abovea predefined overload threshold, the second message including anoffloading message to request the mobile device to associate with theoffloading device over the selected wireless communication band.

Example 5 includes the subject matter of Example 4, and optionally,wherein the receiver is to receive from the offloading device loadinformation, and to select the selected wireless communication bandbased on the load information.

Example 6 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-5, andoptionally, wherein the transmitter is to transmit a beacon includingmultiband capability information indicating a plurality of wirelesscommunication bands supported by the multiband wireless communicationdevice.

Example 7 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-6, andoptionally, wherein the controller is to select to steer the mobiledevice to another wireless communication device based on one or morenetwork management parameters, and wherein the transmitter is totransmit to the mobile device a steering message to steer the mobiledevice to the another wireless communication device.

Example 8 includes the subject matter of Example 7, and optionally,wherein the receiver is to receive a request to associate from themobile device, and wherein the controller is to select to steer themobile device to the another wireless communication device if therequest is to be rejected by the multiband wireless communicationdevice.

Example 9 includes the subject matter of Example 7 or 8, and optionally,wherein the another wireless communication device comprises a cellularnode.

Example 10 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-9, andoptionally, wherein the second message comprises a neighbor Access-Point(AP) Information Element (IE) including the indication of the selectedwireless communication band.

Example 11 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-10, andoptionally, wherein the controller is to select the selected wirelesscommunication band based on at least one attribute selected form thegroup consisting of a load of the selected wireless communication band,and an interference level the selected wireless communication band.

Example 12 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-11, andoptionally, wherein the first and second messages comprise AccessNetwork Query Protocol (ANQP) messages.

Example 13 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 1-12, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of supported wireless communicationbands comprises a plurality of Wireless-Local-Area-Network (WLAN) bands.

Example 14 includes a multiband Access Point (AP) comprising one or moreantennas; a memory; a processor; a receiver to receive a first messagefrom a mobile device, the first message including multiband capabilityinformation indicating a plurality of supported wireless communicationbands; a controller to select a selected wireless communication bandfrom the plurality of supported wireless communication bands; and atransmitter to transmit a second message to the mobile device, thesecond message including an indication of the selected wirelesscommunication band.

Example 15 includes the subject matter of Example 14, and optionally,wherein the first message comprises a pre-association query messageprior to association with the mobile device, the second message being inresponse to the pre-association query message.

Example 16 includes the subject matter of Example 14, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises a steering message to steer trafficof the mobile device from another wireless communication band to theselected wireless communication band.

Example 17 includes the subject matter of Example 14, and optionally,wherein the controller is to select an offloading device when a load ofeach of the plurality of supported wireless communication bands is abovea predefined overload threshold, the second message including anoffloading message to request the mobile device to associate with theoffloading device over the selected wireless communication band.

Example 18 includes the subject matter of Example 17, and optionally,wherein the receiver is to receive from the offloading device loadinformation, and to select the selected wireless communication bandbased on the load information.

Example 19 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 14-18, andoptionally, wherein the transmitter is to transmit a beacon includingmultiband capability information indicating a plurality of wirelesscommunication bands supported by the multiband AP.

Example 20 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 14-19, andoptionally, wherein the controller is to select to steer the mobiledevice to another wireless communication device based on one or morenetwork management parameters, and wherein the transmitter is totransmit to the mobile device a steering message to steer the mobiledevice to the another wireless communication device.

Example 21 includes the subject matter of Example 20, and optionally,wherein the receiver is to receive a request to associate from themobile device, and wherein the controller is to select to steer themobile device to the another wireless communication device if therequest is to be rejected by the multiband AP.

Example 22 includes the subject matter of Example 20 or 21, andoptionally, wherein the another wireless communication device comprisesa cellular node.

Example 23 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 14-22, andoptionally, wherein the second message comprises a neighbor Access-Point(AP) Information Element (IE) including the indication of the selectedwireless communication band.

Example 24 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 14-23, andoptionally, wherein the controller is to select the selected wirelesscommunication band based on at least one attribute selected form thegroup consisting of a load of the selected wireless communication band,and an interference level the selected wireless communication band.

Example 25 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 14-24, andoptionally, wherein the first and second messages comprise AccessNetwork Query Protocol (ANQP) messages.

Example 26 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 14-25, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of supported wireless communicationbands comprises a plurality of Wireless-Local-Area-Network (WLAN) bands.

Example 27 includes a method performed at a multiband Access Point (AP),the method comprising receiving a first message from a mobile device,the first message including multiband capability information indicatinga plurality of supported wireless communication bands; selecting aselected wireless communication band from the plurality of supportedwireless communication bands; and transmitting a second message to themobile device, the second message including an indication of theselected wireless communication band.

Example 28 includes the subject matter of Example 27, and optionally,wherein the first message comprises a pre-association query messageprior to association with the mobile device, the second message being inresponse to the pre-association query message.

Example 29 includes the subject matter of Example 27, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises a steering message to steer trafficof the mobile device from another wireless communication band to theselected wireless communication band.

Example 30 includes the subject matter of Example 27, and optionally,comprising selecting an offloading device when a load of each of theplurality of supported wireless communication bands is above apredefined overload threshold, the second message including anoffloading message to request the mobile device to associate with theoffloading device over the selected wireless communication band.

Example 31 includes the subject matter of Example 30, and optionally,comprising receiving from the offloading device load information, andselecting the selected wireless communication band based on the loadinformation.

Example 32 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 27-31, andoptionally, comprising transmitting a beacon including multibandcapability information indicating a plurality of wireless communicationbands supported by the multiband AP.

Example 33 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 27-32, andoptionally, comprising selecting to steer the mobile device to anotherwireless communication device based on one or more network managementparameters, and transmitting to the mobile device a steering message tosteer the mobile device to the another wireless communication device.

Example 34 includes the subject matter of Example 33, and optionally,comprising receiving a request to associate from the mobile device, andselecting to steer the mobile device to the another wirelesscommunication device if the request is to be rejected by the multibandAP.

Example 35 includes the subject matter of Example 33 or 34, andoptionally, wherein the another wireless communication device comprisesa cellular node.

Example 36 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 27-35, andoptionally, wherein the second message comprises a neighbor Access-Point(AP) Information Element (IE) including the indication of the selectedwireless communication band.

Example 37 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 27-36, andoptionally, comprising selecting the selected wireless communicationband based on at least one attribute selected form the group consistingof a load of the selected wireless communication band, and aninterference level the selected wireless communication band.

Example 38 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 27-37, andoptionally, wherein the first and second messages comprise AccessNetwork Query Protocol (ANQP) messages.

Example 39 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 27-38, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of supported wireless communicationbands comprises a plurality of Wireless-Local-Area-Network (WLAN) bands.

Example 40 includes a product comprising one or more tangiblecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media comprisingcomputer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at leastone computer processor, enable the at least one computer processor toimplement a method comprising receiving at a multiband Access point (AP)a first message from a mobile device, the first message includingmultiband capability information indicating a plurality of supportedwireless communication bands; selecting a selected wirelesscommunication band from the plurality of supported wirelesscommunication bands; and transmitting a second message from themultiband AP to the mobile device, the second message including anindication of the selected wireless communication band.

Example 41 includes the subject matter of Example 40, and optionally,wherein the first message comprises a pre-association query messageprior to association with the mobile device, the second message being inresponse to the pre-association query message.

Example 42 includes the subject matter of Example 40, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises a steering message to steer trafficof the mobile device from another wireless communication band to theselected wireless communication band.

Example 43 includes the subject matter of Example 40, and optionally,wherein the method comprises selecting an offloading device when a loadof each of the plurality of supported wireless communication bands isabove a predefined overload threshold, the second message including anoffloading message to request the mobile device to associate with theoffloading device over the selected wireless communication band.

Example 44 includes the subject matter of Example 43, and optionally,wherein the method comprises receiving from the offloading device loadinformation, and selecting the selected wireless communication bandbased on the load information.

Example 45 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 40-44, andoptionally, wherein the method comprises transmitting a beacon includingmultiband capability information indicating a plurality of wirelesscommunication bands supported by the multiband AP.

Example 46 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 40-45, andoptionally, wherein the method comprises selecting to steer the mobiledevice to another wireless communication device based on one or morenetwork management parameters, and transmitting to the mobile device asteering message to steer the mobile device to the another wirelesscommunication device.

Example 47 includes the subject matter of Example 46, and optionally,wherein the method comprises receiving a request to associate from themobile device, and selecting to steer the mobile device to the anotherwireless communication device if the request is to be rejected by themultiband AP.

Example 48 includes the subject matter of Example 46 or 47, andoptionally, wherein the another wireless communication device comprisesa cellular node.

Example 49 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 40-48, andoptionally, wherein the second message comprises a neighbor Access-Point(AP) Information Element (IE) including the indication of the selectedwireless communication band.

Example 50 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 40-49, andoptionally, wherein the method comprises selecting the selected wirelesscommunication band based on at least one attribute selected form thegroup consisting of a load of the selected wireless communication band,and an interference level the selected wireless communication band.

Example 51 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 40-50, andoptionally, wherein the first and second messages comprise AccessNetwork Query Protocol (ANQP) messages.

Example 52 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 40-51, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of supported wireless communicationbands comprises a plurality of Wireless-Local-Area-Network (WLAN) bands.

Example 53 includes a multiband mobile device comprising a transmitterto transmit a first message to an Access Point (AP), the first messageincluding multiband capability information indicating a plurality ofsupported wireless communication bands of the mobile device; a receiverto receive a second message from the AP, the second message including anindication of a selected wireless communication band from the pluralityof supported wireless communication bands; and a controller to controlthe transmitter and receiver to communicate with the AP over theselected wireless communication band.

Example 54 includes the subject matter of Example 53, and optionally,wherein the first message comprises a pre-association query messageprior to association with the AP, the second message being in responseto the pre-association query message.

Example 55 includes the subject matter of Example 53, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises a steering message, the controlleris to steer traffic of the mobile device from another wirelesscommunication band to the selected wireless communication band.

Example 56 includes the subject matter of Example 53, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises an offloading message indicating anoffloading device, the controller is to associate with the offloadingdevice over the selected wireless communication band.

Example 57 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 53-56, andoptionally, wherein the receiver is to receive a beacon from the AP, thebeacon including multiband capability information indicating a pluralityof wireless communication band supported by the AP.

Example 58 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 53-57, andoptionally, wherein the receiver is to receive from the AP a steeringmessage indicating a wireless communication device, the controller is tosteer the mobile device to the wireless communication device.

Example 59 includes the subject matter of Example 58, and optionally,wherein the transmitter is to transmit to the AP a request to associate,and the receiver is to receive the steering message in response to therequest to associate.

Example 60 includes the subject matter of Example 58 or 59, andoptionally, wherein the wireless communication device comprises acellular node.

Example 61 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 53-60, andoptionally, wherein the second message comprises a neighbor Access-Point(AP) Information Element (IE) including the indication of the selectedwireless communication band.

Example 62 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 53-61, andoptionally, wherein the first and second messages comprise AccessNetwork Query Protocol (ANQP) messages.

Example 63 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 53-62, andoptionally, comprising one or more antennas; a memory; and a processor.

Example 64 includes a method performed at a multiband mobile device, themethod comprising transmitting a first message to an Access Point (AP),the first message including multiband capability information indicatinga plurality of supported wireless communication bands of the mobiledevice; receiving a second message from the AP, the second messageincluding an indication of a selected wireless communication band fromthe plurality of supported wireless communication bands; andcommunicating with the AP over the selected wireless communication band.

Example 65 includes the subject matter of Example 64, and optionally,wherein the first message comprises a pre-association query messageprior to association with the AP, the second message being in responseto the pre-association query message.

Example 66 includes the subject matter of Example 64, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises a steering message, the methodcomprising steering traffic of the mobile device from another wirelesscommunication band to the selected wireless communication band.

Example 67 includes the subject matter of Example 64, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises an offloading message indicating anoffloading device, the method comprising associating with the offloadingdevice over the selected wireless communication band.

Example 68 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 64-67, andoptionally, comprising receiving a beacon from the AP, the beaconincluding multiband capability information indicating a plurality ofwireless communication band supported by the AP.

Example 69 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 64-68, andoptionally, comprising receiving from the AP a steering messageindicating a wireless communication device, and steering the mobiledevice to the wireless communication device.

Example 70 includes the subject matter of Example 69, and optionally,comprising transmitting to the AP a request to associate, and receivingthe steering message in response to the request to associate.

Example 71 includes the subject matter of Example 69 or 70, andoptionally, wherein the wireless communication device comprises acellular node.

Example 72 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 64-71, andoptionally, wherein the second message comprises a neighbor Access-Point(AP) Information Element (IE) including the indication of the selectedwireless communication band.

Example 73 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 64-72, andoptionally, wherein the first and second messages comprise AccessNetwork Query Protocol (ANQP) messages.

Example 74 includes a product including one or more tangiblecomputer-readable non-transitory storage media comprisingcomputer-executable instructions operable to, when executed by at leastone computer processor, enable the at least one computer processor toimplement a method comprising transmitting from a mobile device a firstmessage to an Access Point (AP), the first message including multibandcapability information indicating a plurality of supported wirelesscommunication bands of the mobile device; receiving at the mobile devicea second message from the AP, the second message including an indicationof a selected wireless communication band from the plurality ofsupported wireless communication bands; and communicating with the APover the selected wireless communication band.

Example 75 includes the subject matter of Example 74, and optionally,wherein the first message comprises a pre-association query messageprior to association with the AP, the second message being in responseto the pre-association query message.

Example 76 includes the subject matter of Example 74, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises a steering message, the methodcomprising steering traffic of the mobile device from another wirelesscommunication band to the selected wireless communication band.

Example 77 includes the subject matter of Example 74, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises an offloading message indicating anoffloading device, the method comprising associating with the offloadingdevice over the selected wireless communication band.

Example 78 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 74-77, andoptionally, wherein the method comprises receiving a beacon from the AP,the beacon including multiband capability information indicating aplurality of wireless communication band supported by the AP.

Example 79 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 74-78, andoptionally, wherein the method comprises receiving from the AP asteering message indicating a wireless communication device, andsteering the mobile device to the wireless communication device.

Example 80 includes the subject matter of Example 79, and optionally,wherein the method comprises transmitting to the AP a request toassociate, and receiving the steering message in response to the requestto associate.

Example 81 includes the subject matter of Example 79 or 80, andoptionally, wherein the wireless communication device comprises acellular node.

Example 82 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 74-81, andoptionally, wherein the second message comprises a neighbor Access-Point(AP) Information Element (IE) including the indication of the selectedwireless communication band.

Example 83 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 74-82, andoptionally, wherein the first and second messages comprise AccessNetwork Query Protocol (ANQP) messages.

Example 84 includes an apparatus comprising means for receiving a firstmessage from a mobile device, the first message including multibandcapability information indicating a plurality of supported wirelesscommunication bands; means for selecting a selected wirelesscommunication band from the plurality of supported wirelesscommunication bands; and means for transmitting a second message to themobile device, the second message including an indication of theselected wireless communication band.

Example 85 includes the subject matter of Example 84, and optionally,wherein the first message comprises a pre-association query messageprior to association with the mobile device, the second message being inresponse to the pre-association query message.

Example 86 includes the subject matter of Example 84, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises a steering message to steer trafficof the mobile device from another wireless communication band to theselected wireless communication band.

Example 87 includes the subject matter of Example 84, and optionally,comprising means for selecting an offloading device when a load of eachof the plurality of supported wireless communication bands is above apredefined overload threshold, the second message including anoffloading message to request the mobile device to associate with theoffloading device over the selected wireless communication band.

Example 88 includes the subject matter of Example 87, and optionally,comprising means for receiving from the offloading device loadinformation, and selecting the selected wireless communication bandbased on the load information.

Example 89 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 84-88, andoptionally, comprising means for transmitting a beacon includingmultiband capability information indicating a plurality of wirelesscommunication bands.

Example 90 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 88-89, andoptionally, comprising means for selecting to steer the mobile device toanother wireless communication device based on one or more networkmanagement parameters, and means for transmitting to the mobile device asteering message to steer the mobile device to the another wirelesscommunication device.

Example 91 includes the subject matter of Example 90, and optionally,comprising means for receiving a request to associate from the mobiledevice, and means for selecting to steer the mobile device to theanother wireless communication device if the request is to be rejected.

Example 92 includes the subject matter of Example 90 or 91, andoptionally, wherein the another wireless communication device comprisesa cellular node.

Example 93 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 84-92, andoptionally, wherein the second message comprises a neighbor Access-Point(AP) Information Element (IE) including the indication of the selectedwireless communication band.

Example 94 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 84-93, andoptionally, comprising means for selecting the selected wirelesscommunication band based on at least one attribute selected form thegroup consisting of a load of the selected wireless communication band,and an interference level the selected wireless communication band.

Example 95 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 84-94, andoptionally, wherein the first and second messages comprise AccessNetwork Query Protocol (ANQP) messages.

Example 96 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 84-95, andoptionally, wherein the plurality of supported wireless communicationbands comprises a plurality of Wireless-Local-Area-Network (WLAN) bands.

Example 97 includes an apparatus comprising means for transmitting froma mobile device a first message to an Access Point (AP), the firstmessage including multiband capability information indicating aplurality of supported wireless communication bands of the mobiledevice; means for receiving at the mobile device a second message fromthe AP, the second message including an indication of a selectedwireless communication band from the plurality of supported wirelesscommunication bands; and means for communicating with the AP over theselected wireless communication band.

Example 98 includes the subject matter of Example 97, and optionally,wherein the first message comprises a pre-association query messageprior to association with the AP, the second message being in responseto the pre-association query message.

Example 99 includes the subject matter of Example 97, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises a steering message, the apparatuscomprising means for steering traffic of the mobile device from anotherwireless communication band to the selected wireless communication band.

Example 100 includes the subject matter of Example 97, and optionally,wherein the second message comprises an offloading message indicating anoffloading device, the apparatus comprising means for associating withthe offloading device over the selected wireless communication band.

Example 101 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 97-100,and optionally, comprising means for receiving a beacon from the AP, thebeacon including multiband capability information indicating a pluralityof wireless communication band supported by the AP.

Example 102 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 97-101,and optionally, comprising means for receiving from the AP a steeringmessage indicating a wireless communication device, and steering themobile device to the wireless communication device.

Example 103 includes the subject matter of Example 102, and optionally,comprising means for transmitting to the AP a request to associate, andreceiving the steering message in response to the request to associate.

Example 104 includes the subject matter of Example 102 or 103, andoptionally, wherein the wireless communication device comprises acellular node.

Example 105 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 97-104,and optionally, wherein the second message comprises a neighborAccess-Point (AP) Information Element (IE) including the indication ofthe selected wireless communication band.

Example 106 includes the subject matter of any one of Examples 97-105,and optionally, wherein the first and second messages comprise AccessNetwork Query Protocol (ANQP) messages.

Functions, operations, components and/or features described herein withreference to one or more embodiments, may be combined with, or may beutilized in combination with, one or more other functions, operations,components and/or features described herein with reference to one ormore other embodiments, or vice versa.

While certain features of some embodiments have been illustrated anddescribed herein, many modifications, substitutions, changes, andequivalents may occur to those skilled in the art. It is, therefore, tobe understood that the appended claims are intended to cover all suchmodifications and changes as fall within the true spirit of theinvention.

1. (canceled)
 2. An apparatus comprising: a memory to store logic; and aprocessor configured to execute the logic to cause a multiband AccessPoint (AP) to: transmit a beacon comprising multiband capabilityinformation corresponding to the multiband AP, the multiband capabilityinformation corresponding to the multiband AP to indicate one or moremultiband capabilities of the multiband AP; receive a first message froma multiband wireless communication station (STA), the first messagecomprising multiband capability information corresponding to themultiband STA, the multiband capability information corresponding to themultiband STA to indicate that the multiband STA is a multibandmulti-mode STA having both WiFi connectivity and cellular connectivity;and transmit to the multiband STA a second message configured toindicate to the multiband STA to steer traffic to a cellular node of acellular network.
 3. The apparatus of claim 2 configured to cause themultiband AP to transmit to the multiband STA a Basic Service Set (BSS)transition request to steer the multiband STA to a BSS.
 4. The apparatusof claim 3 configured to cause the multiband AP to select to steer themultiband STA to the BSS based on a load-balancing criterion.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 3 configured to cause the multiband AP to select tosteer the multiband STA to the BSS based on an interference criterion.6. The apparatus of claim 3 configured to cause the multiband AP toselect to steer the multiband STA to the BSS based on a capacitycriterion.
 7. The apparatus of claim 2 configured to cause the multibandAP to transmit to the multiband STA a Basic Service Set (BSS) identifierwith which the multiband STA is to associate.
 8. The apparatus of claim2, wherein the multiband capability information corresponding to themultiband STA comprises an indication of a plurality of supportedwireless communication bands of said multiband STA.
 9. The apparatus ofclaim 2, wherein the first message comprises an association request. 10.The apparatus of claim 2 configured to cause the multiband AP tocommunicate the first and second messages with the multiband STA over a2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) band or a 5 GHz band.
 11. The apparatus of claim 2comprising a multiband radio to transmit the beacon, receive the firstmessage, and transmit the second message.
 12. The apparatus of claim 11comprising one or more antennas connected to the multiband radio, amemory to store data processed by the multiband AP, and a processor toexecute instructions of an operating system of the multiband AP.
 13. Aproduct comprising one or more tangible computer-readable non-transitorystorage media comprising computer-executable instructions operable to,when executed by at least one processor, enable the at least oneprocessor to cause a multiband Access Point (AP) to: transmit a beaconcomprising multiband capability information corresponding to themultiband AP, the multiband capability information corresponding to themultiband AP to indicate one or more multiband capabilities of themultiband AP; receive a first message from a multiband wirelesscommunication station (STA), the first message comprising multibandcapability information corresponding to the multiband STA, the multibandcapability information corresponding to the multiband STA to indicatethat the multiband STA is a multiband multi-mode STA having both WiFiconnectivity and cellular connectivity; and transmit to the multibandSTA a second message configured to indicate to the multiband STA tosteer traffic to a cellular node of a cellular network.
 14. The productof claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause themultiband AP to transmit to the multiband STA a Basic Service Set (BSS)transition request to steer the multiband STA to a BSS.
 15. The productof claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause themultiband AP to select to steer the multiband STA to the BSS based on aload-balancing criterion.
 16. The product of claim 14, wherein theinstructions, when executed, cause the multiband AP to select to steerthe multiband STA to the BSS based on an interference criterion.
 17. Theproduct of claim 14, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause themultiband AP to select to steer the multiband STA to the BSS based on acapacity criterion.
 18. The product of claim 13, wherein theinstructions, when executed, cause the multiband AP to transmit to themultiband STA a Basic Service Set (BSS) identifier with which themultiband STA is to associate.
 19. The product of claim 13, wherein themultiband capability information corresponding to the multiband STAcomprises an indication of a plurality of supported wirelesscommunication bands of said multiband STA.
 20. The product of claim 13,wherein the first message comprises an association request.
 21. Theproduct of claim 13, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause themultiband AP to communicate the first and second messages with themultiband STA over a 2.4 Gigahertz (GHz) band or a 5 GHz band.
 22. Anapparatus comprising: means for causing a multiband Access Point (AP) totransmit a beacon comprising multiband capability informationcorresponding to the multiband AP, the multiband capability informationcorresponding to the multiband AP to indicate one or more multibandcapabilities of the multiband AP; means for causing the multiband AP toreceive a first message from a multiband wireless communication station(STA), the first message comprising multiband capability informationcorresponding to the multiband STA, the multiband capability informationcorresponding to the multiband STA to indicate that the multiband STA isa multiband multi-mode STA having both WiFi connectivity and cellularconnectivity; and means for causing the multiband AP to transmit to themultiband STA a second message configured to indicate to the multibandSTA to steer traffic to a cellular node of a cellular network.
 23. Theapparatus of claim 22 comprising means for causing the multiband AP totransmit to the multiband STA a Basic Service Set (BSS) transitionrequest to steer the multiband STA to a BSS.